This week in Shoulder & Elbow

Aug 10–16, 2026 · 20 new studies, 10 reviews · Shoulder & Elbow archive · All weeks

The new Shoulder & Elbow research The Reduction sent the week of Aug 10–16, 2026, with the week’s most recent reviews, each with a one-line summary.

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New research

  1. Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Synergistic Enhancement of Bone Marrow Stimulation for Enhanced Labral Repair and Functional Recovery in a Rat Bankart Model.

    American Journal of Sports Medicine · Sep 2026 · PubMed

    In a rat Bankart model, adding PDGF to bone marrow stimulation dramatically boosted progenitor cell recruitment and improved labral healing and functional recovery compared to either treatment alone, suggesting a promising translational strategy.

  2. Plate Fixation with and without Suture Endobutton Augmentation of the CoracoClavicular Ligament in displaced Lateral Clavicle Fractures: A Comparative Outcome Study.

    Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma · Aug 13 2026 · PubMed

    In 49 patients with displaced lateral clavicle fractures, adding coracoclavicular suture Endobutton augmentation to plate fixation achieved 100% union versus 92.8% with plating alone, though the difference wasn't statistically significant, with similar functional outcomes.

  3. Quantifying the Center of Elbow Rotation in Relation to the Capitellum: Implications for Lateral Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction.

    HAND · Aug 13 2026 · PubMed

    CT-based 3D modeling of 29 elbows found the ulnohumeral center of rotation closely matches the geometric center of the capitellum, guiding optimal graft placement for isometric lateral ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction.

  4. Metabolic Bone Disease Care Practice Patterns and the Correlation Between Computed Tomography and Fracture Risk Assessment Tool Score in Patients Undergoing Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Aug 13 2026 · PubMed

    Metabolic bone disease is significantly underscreened and undertreated in total shoulder arthroplasty patients, with lower humeral head Hounsfield units correlating with higher fracture risk, highlighting missed opportunities for perioperative bone health optimization.

  5. Posterior Translation of the Humeral Head after Arthroscopic Bankart Repair: A Quantitative Analysis of Preoperative and Postoperative Axial MRI.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Aug 13 2026 · PubMed

    In 50 patients, arthroscopic Bankart repair significantly shifted the humeral head posteriorly on MRI, with greater preoperative anterior translation (linked to instability chronicity) predicting less postoperative correction.

  6. Patient-Level Value Analysis in Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Evaluating a One-Year Episode of Care.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Aug 12 2026 · PubMed

    In anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty, higher episode-of-care costs (driven by implants, inpatient stay, and SNF discharge) did not correlate with better outcomes, highlighting targets to improve value.

  7. Evaluating the Accessibility of Online Resources Regarding Biceps Tenodesis.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Aug 11 2026 · PubMed

    Online patient resources on biceps tenodesis are largely too advanced for average readers and of only moderate quality, with journal sources most credible but least readable and government sites the opposite.

  8. Outcomes of primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in patients younger than 65 years: A systematic review.

    Shoulder & Elbow · Aug 08 2026 · PubMed

    A systematic review shows primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in patients under 65 significantly improves range of motion and PROMs, with modest complication (13%) and revision (8%) rates, supporting its use in selected younger patients.

  9. The biomechanics of the sternoclavicular joint: an experimental and computational study.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Aug 06 2026 · PubMed

    A validated musculoskeletal model combined with motion sensors characterized sternoclavicular joint range of motion and forces, offering a reliable tool for future shoulder biomechanics studies.

  10. Preoperative Proximal Migration of the Radial Head as an Independent Predictor of Suboptimal Outcomes After Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation for Capitellar Osteochondritis Dissecans: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

    American Journal of Sports Medicine · Aug 06 2026 · PubMed

    In adolescents undergoing osteochondral autograft transplantation for capitellar OCD, preoperative proximal migration of the radial head >2.2mm independently predicted suboptimal outcomes.

  11. Gärtner Type and Outcomes After US PAL Versus Arthroscopic Debridement for Calcific Tendinitis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Aug 06 2026 · PubMed

    In this cohort study, arthroscopic debridement outperformed ultrasound-guided lavage for Gärtner Type I calcific tendinitis, while both were equally effective for Type II, suggesting calcification type could guide treatment choice.

  12. Clinical impact of scapular stress fracture after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: a single-center propensity score-matched analysis.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Aug 06 2026 · PubMed

    In 551 rTSAs, scapular stress fracture occurred in 5.4% of patients and, despite similar pain/functional scores versus matched controls, was linked to reduced forward flexion and abduction, especially with type III fractures.

  13. The impact of glenoid polyethylene type, humeral head size and composition on revision risk following primary anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty for osteoarthritis.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Aug 06 2026 · PubMed

    In a large registry study, highly cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) glenoids showed modestly lower revision rates than non-XLPE after anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty, with the benefit varying by humeral head size and material.

  14. Suprascapular Nerve Release Improves the Histological Healing Morphology and Biomechanical Strength of the Rotator Cuff in a Rat Chronic Massive Rotator Cuff Tear Model.

    American Journal of Sports Medicine · Jul 31 2026 · PubMed

    In a rat chronic massive rotator cuff tear model, suprascapular nerve release combined with tendon repair improved biomechanical strength and histological healing compared to repair alone, supporting its potential clinical use.

  15. Shoulder Injury and Surgery Patterns Among Astronauts Across Spaceflight Phases and Mission Operations: An Analysis of 677 Injuries from 1981 to 2024.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Jul 30 2026 · PubMed

    Analysis of 677 astronaut shoulder injuries (1981-2024) found most occur post-flight, with longer microgravity exposure and greater NBL training hours linked to earlier injury onset, supporting targeted pre-flight conditioning and post-flight surveillance.

  16. Surgical Time Is More Predictive of Suture Contamination During Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Compared With Skin-Preparation Method: A Prospective Randomized Study on Male Patients.

    Arthroscopy · Jul 29 2026 · PubMed

    In this RCT of 150 rotator cuff repairs, longer surgical/suture exposure time predicted suture contamination more than choice of skin antiseptic, though olanexidine had higher contamination risk than alcohol-povidone-iodine.

  17. Quality and Rate of Recovery after Simpliciti Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty and Tornier Pyrocarbon Hemiarthroplasty: A Propensity Score-Matched Comparative Study.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Jul 28 2026 · PubMed

    In a propensity-matched comparison, stemless anatomic TSA and pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty gave similarly good 2-year outcomes, with aTSA showing slightly less pain and faster early recovery.

  18. Preoperative Scaption and External Rotation Strength Deficits Are Predictive of Retear After Rotator Cuff Repair.

    Arthroscopy · Jul 27 2026 · PubMed

    In 699 patients, preoperative deficits in scaption and external rotation strength (plus age and Constant score) independently predicted rotator cuff retear, offering a practical clinical alternative to MRI for risk assessment.

  19. 3D motion analysis after surgical treatment of elbow flexor spasticity: a proof-of-concept study.

    Journal of Hand Surgery (European) · May 31 2026 · PubMed

    In this proof-of-concept study of 12 patients, 3D motion analysis with EMG provided objective, complementary data to clinical spasticity scales after hyperselective neurectomy for elbow flexor spasticity, though further research is needed.

  20. Association between pain intensity, range of motion, disability, and mental health-related quality of life variables in frozen shoulder: A cross-sectional study.

    Shoulder & Elbow · Oct 29 2025 · PubMed

    In frozen shoulder patients, pain intensity was the strongest predictor of disability and was most closely linked to limited forward flexion, while psychological impact was less apparent on standard outcome measures.

Recent reviews

  1. Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Elbow: Current Diagnosis and Management.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Feb 15 2026 · PubMed

    Reviews diagnosis and staged management of elbow osteochondritis dissecans, favoring nonoperative treatment for stable lesions and surgery (microfracture, OAT, grafting) for unstable or refractory cases.

  2. Acromioclavicular Separations: Complications and How to Avoid Them.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Oct 15 2025 · PubMed

    This review outlines complications associated with both surgical and nonsurgical management of acromioclavicular joint separations and offers evidence-based strategies to minimize them.

  3. Evolution of Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Design Rationales and Where We Are Now.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Jan 15 2025 · PubMed

    This review traces the evolution of reverse shoulder arthroplasty designs from Grammont-style to lateralized implants and summarizes how component design and positioning affect functional outcomes and complications.

  4. Management of the in-season athlete with an anterior shoulder dislocation.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Dec 2024 · PubMed

    This narrative review highlights that nonoperative treatment allows in-season return to play after shoulder dislocation but carries higher recurrence risk, while operative treatment lowers recurrence at the cost of season-ending recovery.

  5. Evaluation and Management of Pediatric Proximal Humerus Greater and Lesser Tuberosity Avulsion Fractures.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Dec 01 2024 · PubMed

    This review covers evaluation and management of pediatric proximal humerus tuberosity avulsion fractures, noting sparse evidence and unclear treatment guidelines for these rare, easily missed injuries.

  6. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty design-inlay vs. onlay: does it really make a difference?

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Sep 2024 · PubMed

    This review argues that classifying reverse shoulder arthroplasty humeral components as simply inlay vs. onlay oversimplifies design differences, proposing that combined lateralization/distalization better explains outcome variation.

  7. Consensus on the preoperative management of patients with chronic moderate to severe shoulder pain to improve postoperative outcomes: Delphi results.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Jul 2024 · PubMed

    A national Delphi consensus among shoulder surgeons produced a preoperative management algorithm—covering pain/psychosocial assessment, treatment, and follow-up—for patients with chronic shoulder pain awaiting rotator cuff or arthroplasty surgery to optimize outcomes.

  8. Subscapular abscesses: A literature review and evidence-based treatment guidelines.

    Shoulder & Elbow · Jul 2024 · PubMed

    This literature review of 17 subscapular abscess cases recommends prompt antibiotics and surgical drainage via tendon-sparing approaches given the risk of rapid clinical deterioration.

  9. The long head of the biceps tendon: a valuable tool in shoulder surgery.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Sep 2023 · PubMed

    This review highlights the long head of the biceps tendon as a versatile autograft option for augmenting rotator cuff repairs, capsular reconstruction, and shoulder stabilization procedures.

  10. Antibiotic Spacers for Shoulder Periprosthetic Joint Infection: A Review.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Oct 01 2022 · PubMed

    This review contextualizes antibiotic cement spacers for shoulder periprosthetic joint infection, covering their history, types, antibiotic dosing, efficacy, and complications within two-stage revision treatment.

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